Embracing Biblical Authority for True Discipleship

The choice of a church is important because of the impact that that church will have on our minds, our hearts, our relationships, and our spiritual well-being. It is where possibly we will get married, where we will raise our children and grandchildren. It's where we will spend a significant time of our time, our energy, and our resources. It is the community that we will walk with in both the good and the bad times. And it's the place where we will learn about God, his purpose for our lives, and how to grow as Christians. [00:00:28]

The fact that churches believe and teach different things or emphasize certain doctrines over others should be evident in their names. Presbyterians because the idea of a presbyter is important to them. Baptists because the idea of adult baptism is important to us. uh Pentecostals because the idea of the Holy Spirit from the from Pentecost is important to them. Now, they should all be dedicated to exalting the Lord Jesus Christ, but how they go about that mission and what they view as essential to that mission is very different. [00:01:22]

Between churches there are major differences in doctrine that is sets of beliefs, theology, what we teach about God and practice, how they go about living both doctrine and theology. And so over the next eight weeks, we are going to explore what makes us as West Hill Park Baptist Church Baptist, which is conveniently sum summarized for us in the acronym Baptist. This series, Baptist Distinctives and Why they matter, is not an argument for why Baptists are better than anyone else. We are not. Instead, it's an exposition into why we are Baptist, exploring the core Baptist teachings and beliefs from their historical roots and how they still apply to us today. [00:02:07]

The restoration of biblical authority that the reformers sought to uphold could be defined as as Baptists we believe that the Bible is complete. Meaning that there are no new revelations in the form of tongues or prophecy or dreams. 1 Corinthians chapter 13 8-10 I'll read for us from there says love never fails but if there are gifts of prophecy they will but be done away with or some versions say they will come to an end if there are tongues they will cease if there's knowledge it will be done away for we know in part and we prophesy in heart. But when what is perfect finally comes, that which is partial will be done away with. [00:06:13]

So as Baptists have historically affirmed that scripture or the Bible is complete, there is no new revelation by some apostle or prophet or something that needs to be added to scripture. Scripture is complete in its entirety. But also that it is enough. It is enough for doctrine. It is enough for practice and it is enough to know the truths about God who has revealed himself through scripture and through the person of Jesus Christ. Now, there's no book that is more popular in the Bible. In fact, it has always been the number one bestseller for years and counting. [00:07:11]

The Bible is an incomparable book penned over 15 over a 1500 year period by 40 human penmen. All 66 books, two testaments, 1,189 chapters, 31,12 verses, 7837,000 words are all written about one central theme, the work and the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's talk about the authority, inherency, and the inspiration of scripture. Now, I don't need to remind you. I'm sure you know this very well that our generation wrestles with authority. We use the word authority in both positive and in negative ways. [00:07:59]

To call the Bible authoritative is to is to say that it holds the final word, not science, not human experience or even human reasoning. Scripture always has the final word. 2 Timothy chapter 3 and 16 reads, "All scripture is God breathed." That would be the NIV. Or is breathed out of God, the ESV, or is inspired by God, the New Living Translation, or is Godspirited. That would be the Scott Mcnite version. And continues to say, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. [00:09:54]

The trustworthiness of scripture lies at the foundation in the Christian system of doctrine and is therefore fundamental to the Christian hope and life. Benjamin Warfield's words therefore frame the importance of the doctrine of inherency. And in case you're wondering what that theological term means, the doctrine of inherency asserts that the Bible in its original manuscripts is without error in all its teaching, including those regarding doctrine, morality, and even science. It suggests that the Bible is a perfect reflection of God's will and is free from any factual inaccuracies. [00:11:08]

It anchors the entire Christian system of doctrine or even our assurance of scriptures full truthfulness and complete trustworthiness. In fact, much is at stake with inherency. Our our obedience to God, our faith and practice readily depend on whether we can trust God's word and whether it's God's word at all or it is simply some sacred hearsay. As Baptists, historically, our confidence in the word of God goes far and beyond simply the idea of trustworthiness and even eternality. We also believe that it is the sole authority for our practice and faith. [00:11:54]

Paul did not preach his personal opinion. He reminds Timothy it is his faith and his salvation is rooted in the scriptures. He reminds him that it's the scriptures that pointed Timothy to his need for and acceptance of salvation. also that all scripture that is old testament and new testament is profitable for teaching which is the instruction in what is right. It is profitable for rebuking identifying what things are not right. It is profitable for correcting getting wrong things right. It is profitable for training in righteousness how to keep things right. And it's the only way to be mature. stable and fruitful in every good work. [00:13:44]

In the world of GPS, as in life, it is important that you get your information from a reliable source. God's word is not only reliable, it is the ultimate authority on how to live life purposefully and with a map that's never out ofd. Pay attention where you get your information. Let's talk about some takeaways here that relate to the doctrine of biblical authority. First of all, let's address the issue of biblical literacy. Baptists historically have been known as people of the book. But the scale of biblical literacy today is frightening. [00:17:02]

A lot of us own more than one Bible in our homes, more Bible versions on our phone apps than we will ever be able to read. And yet, the research shows an alarming biblical ineptitude. Let's go back to being people of the book. One very important caution. Don't just read the Bible for information. It's not a novel. A lot of us read the Bible that way. You are not preparing to give a talk or a lecture at a Bible school or win an argument. Read the Bible for formation. In fact, put it differently, let the Bible read you. [00:17:11]

Sit with what you're reading and allow the scriptures that are active, sharper than any two-edged sword to speak to you, to correct you, to rebuke you, to shape you. Hey, and when you read something that you disagree with, guess who is wrong? You ask what does this text mean? How did the people who read or heard this text historically when they first heard it, how did they understand it? What did it mean to them? What is this passage or this text saying to me today? And is what is God asking me through the text I'm reading? [00:18:42]

That is how we read the Bible. Not just so we can memorize or crumb it so that we can go and argue and win an argument. It's one of the issues that I've histo I have personally always had with the apologetics movement is because sometimes you can read the Bible as a way of just winning an argument. I don't know if you have heard of the powerful effect. It's a study that surveyed 40,000 Americans and found little benefit for those who read the Bible. one, two, or three times a week. But here's the difference. They found an exponential jump for those who engaged with scripture at least four times per week. [00:19:29]

Those who read the Bible at least four times a week experienced far much better mental health. Specifically, they found they were found to have 30 less chances of struggling with loneliness. 32% chance less chance of experiencing anger issues. Destructive thoughts were also noticeably less likely for those with good Bible reading habits. better than mental health medication and I for some of us there may be a place for that. Scripture or being immersed in scripture in itself is not just catharic it is healing. Two better relationships. [00:20:25]

People who engage scripture at least four days weekly reported better outcomes in their relationships. They experienced relational experienced relational issues specifically in marriage 40% less than their peers. They were also much less likely to engage in infidelity. Perhaps most significantly, they had a 231% higher odds of discipling others. I thought that was startling. People who read the Bible have better odds of recognizing our shared mandate to be disciplemakers rather than consumers. Better behavior. Number three, those who spent time in the word four days per week or more were also far more likely to live a more moral upright life. [00:21:12]

The study revealed they were 95 59% less likely to view pornography and 50 57% less likely to get drunk. And number four, better spiritual life. People who read the Bible 4 days each week reported a much healthier spiritual life. They were 60% less likely to feel spiritual spiritually stagnant. 228% more likely to share their faith with others and 47% more likely to memorize scripture. Let's face it, you can't memorize what you don't read. A surprising discovery of the study was that the lives of Christians who don't read the Bible most days of the week are statistically similar to those of non-Christians. [00:21:54]

In other words, what matters is not a profession of faith, but time spent in God's word. Let's go back to being people of the book. The book being the Bible. Secondly, the Bible is our sole rule of faith and practice. Today when many appeal to some influencer as the authority on all things about life, it is important to remember that our rule of life is still the Bible. I think this is specifically important in our Tik Tok generation. You are not an authority because you can post a video and collect a million followers. [00:23:02]

Let me say that again. You are not an authority on something simply because you can post a video and collect a million fors. I saw a video of a child giving advice on how to parent. There are even videos of a 5-year-old giving marriage advice. Come on. Five years. You've never been married and you're giving advice on marriage. and they all have lots of views and followers. It's astounding that you can give advice on how to parent when you've barely just come out of your diapers. But that's the craziness of our times. That authority is somehow earned by how many followers you have. [00:23:46]

Since God is the author, the Bible is authoritative, says Robertson McQuicklin. It is absolute in its authority for human thought and behavior as the scripture has said is a recurring theme throughout the New Testament. In fact, in the New Testament, it contains more than 200 direct quotations of the Old Testament. In addition, the New Testament has a large and uncertain number of illusions to the Old Testament. New Testament writers following the example of Jesus Christ built their theology on the Old Testament. For Christ and the apostles to quote the Bible was to settle an issue. [00:24:38]

To know what the Bible says and yet never live it is simply futile. I read about a story told by Agnes Lee of someone new who joined their church. The young man, he was quite charming, charismatic, friendly, and looked very sincere. During one prayer meeting, he shared that he was serving as a youth leader back in his home church. He seemed to know the Bible very well. He could quote most scriptures that you and I know. And he shared how important his faith and salvation were to him. He quickly became someone that people opened up to and he was accepted in that small church and was loved immensely. [00:25:27]

A month later it was discovered that this man was actually a fraudster. He wasn't a youth pastor and he had made up stories, borrowed ma money from various church members and he eventually fled with the money that innocent church members had lent him and never returned back to the church. His phone line was canled, lost contact, and nobody ever saw him again. So here's the question. How could a person who knows so much about the Bible turn out to be a fraudster? Well, you've been watching the news. I'm sure you know the answer to that. It is possible. [00:25:47]

Knowing the Bible without godly living, as James says, is like a person who looks at themselves in a mirror and goes away and immediately forgets how they look. If God's word has no impact on the way we live, then we will be no different from those who don't believe. It is possible to act like a Christian outwardly, but inwardly never have heard your heart aligned with God. In fact, have your heart still live in rebellion against God. As I read God's word, I remind myself to invite God to search my heart. [00:26:22]

During a morning devotion I came across the verse in Matthew chapter 15 and verses 18. And it says, "But the things that come out of a person's mouth come out of the heart, and those are the things that defile them." That convicted me. It caused me to reflect on the words I had spoken, and I realized that I had said things to my daughter that did not glorify God and needed to reflect on my self-centered heart and my unkind and insensitive words. I needed to apologize to her and align my heart with God. [00:28:22]

It demanded that I make a corre course course correction. It demanded that I do something. It did not ask me to simply memorize the verse. Simply knowing the Bible is not enough. It's possible to listen to many sermons or even preach and never allow scripture to change your life. Only when I read the Bible with a humble and cotright heart does the word lead me back to God for salvation. God is always ready to forgive no matter how far we have gone astray. First John chapter 1 and verses 9 tells us that. [00:29:03]

And knowing this, we recognize that the word of God is like a gift and effective Bible reading will consistently point us back to God. So let us be doers and not just hearers of the word as James tells us. Let us read our Bible so that we can be men and women after God's own heart, working out our salvation with fear and trembling. And then and just then we may become true disciples of Jesus Christ. [00:29:40]